Well reamer



y 1933? w. E. SKEVERS El Al. 1,906,427

May 2, 1933. SIEVERS ET AL 1,906,427

WELL REAMER Filed Nov. 20, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 2, 1933 warren stares rarest Price WILLIAM E. SIEVERS AND OTTO HAMMER, OF WHITTIER, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNORS TO SECURITY INVESTMENT COMPANY OF CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA WHITTIER, or WHITTIER, CALIFORNIA, A

WELL REAMER .Application'filed November 20, 1930. Serial No. 496,917.

This invention relates to improvements in well reamers and may be considered an improvement over the construction disclosed in an application for a well reamer filed by John A. Vertson, October '17, 1929, Serial No. 400,316.

An object ofthe present invention is to'providc an improved well reamcr having roller like cutters which are mounted on the body of the reamcr in such a manner" as to be rotatable about axes which are both laterally inclined and downwardly and inwardly inclined. In this manner the reamer when considered as an entirety is downwardly tapered so as to graduallyenlarge the hole,

and distribute the wear evenly throughout the lengths of. the respective cutters.

Another object of the invention is to provide a well reamer havinglaterally inclined roller like cutters, which cutters may also be downwardly and inwardly inclined,with the cutters so mounted that the reamer may assume a contracted position or an expanded position enablingthe reamer to be lowered through a well, Casing-and then to expand and ream the well hole below the casing.

A further object of the invention is to provide a well reamer comprising a body and cutter holders mounted on the body which carry the cuttcrs,;these cutter holders providing for expansion of the reamerand also enabling a cutter to be easily and quickly removed and replaced.

lVith the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be made manifest in the fol lowing detailed description, andspecifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference is had to the accompanying drawings for an illustrative embodiment of the invention, wherein:

F 1 is a view in side elevation of the improved reamer.

Fig. 2 is a partial view in section taken substantially upon the line 2-2 upon Figure 1 in the direction indicated.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken upon the line 3-3 upon Figure 1, illustrating the reamer in expanded position.

Fig. 4 is a top plan View of the improved reamer.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Figure 3, illustrating the reamer in contracted position.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section takensubstantially upon the line 6-6 upon Figure 1.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout, the improved reamer comprises a body generally designated at 10, shown as having at its upper end a pin 11 and at its lower end a box 12, making provision for incorporating the reamer in a string of drill pipe. The body between the pin and box is downwardly tapering in form as shownupon Figure 1.

.At intervals on its peripheral surface there are formed recesses 18, the rear ends of which are semi-circular in form with the forward side being arranged on approximately a tangent thereto. These recesses are laterally inclined as indicated by the construction shown in Figure 1 and as the body 10 tapers the recesses are also downwardly and in-. wardly inclined, as will be apparent from an inspection of Figure 2. At the top andbottom of each recess there is a boss, the upper boss being designated by the reference character 14: and the lower boss by the reference character 15. Cutter holders 16 fit between the bosses, having semi-circular backs which fit snugly in the semi-circular rear ends of the recesses 13. These cutter holders have top and bottom outwardly extending arms 17 and 18 and are pinned in place by pins 19 extend ing through the bosses 14 and respectively. These pins may be locked in in any suitable manner, such as by threads, set screws, locking pins, or the like. The cutter holders 16 can pivot on the pins 19 and assume an expanded position as shown in Figure 3 or contracted positions as shown in Figure 5 whereportions.

in the cutter holders are lying against the tangential sides of the recesses. Cutters 2O fit between the outstanding arms 17 and 18 of the cutter holders and are rotatable upon pins 21 which extend through the upper arms 17 and partially through the lower arms 18. These pins are locked in place as by a locking pin 23 and a small hole 24k is left in the lower arm 18 permitting pin 21 to be punched out of the cutter holder when it is desired to replace a cutter.

The cutters 20 have scarifying edges or teeth formed thereon which are shown as being helical in form. It will be readily appreciated, however, that the particular nature of the scarifying teeth may vary. The cutters 20 present longitudinally curved exteriors so that they are somewhat barrel shaped in form. In the Vertson applica tion, above referred to, the cutters are preferably true ellipsoidal frustums. In the present case, however, the cutters are slightly modified from this shape due to the fact that the axis of rotation of each cutter is downwardly and inwardly inclined as well as being laterally inclined. The lower end of the cutter is of minimum diameter whereas the central portion is of greaterdiameter and the upper portionhas ,a diameter between the diameters of the central portions and lower The cutters are preferably given this shape so that each cutter will bear against the, well hole throughout substantially its entire length. Consequently during the remaining operations the reamer first encounters the walls of a small hole which it is desired tov ream. The lower portions of the cutters enlarge this hole slightly and the central portions of the cutters continue the enlargement, with the upper ends of the cutters completing the enlargement and reaming the hole to a new size. In this manner the wear on the scarifying edges will be distributed throughout the entire length i of each cutter and as the cutters may rotate during the scarifying action the wear will be distributed completely around each cutter. By thus distributing the wear completely around each cutter and over its entire length, the life of any particular cutter will be materially prolonged.

The improved reamer is highly advantageous over prior well reamers having cutters rotatable about vertical axes or axes which i are radially inclined in that such constructionsmerely pack the walls of the well, frequently having a knurling action. In the improved construction the scarifying edgesef- 1. fectively scrape the walls of the well with a smooth discing action so that when casing is subsequently lowered thereis little or no danger of its becoming hung in the well. The flutes 25 which are arranged between the recesses 13 facilitate upward flow of circulation fluid past the reamer.

By comparing Figure 5 with Figure 3 it will be appreciated that the reamer can be lowered into the well with the cutters in contracted positions asshown in Figure 5. After reaching the desired location in the well rotation of the reamer toward the right causes the cutters to encounter heavy mud present in the well with the result that the cutter holders 16 will swing outwardly into the position shown in Figure 3. Their pivotal movement is limited in this position by the sides of the cutter holders engaging the rear edges of the recesses. While the resistance offered by the mud ordinarily is sufiicient to swing the cutter holders into expanded positions, such movements may be assisted by springs 26 recessed in the body and urging the cutter holders into expanded positions. springs'may be arranged at the top and bottom of the cutter holders or may be omitted entirely as above indicated.

From the above described construction it will be appreciated that an improved Well reamer "has been developed which advantageously reams the well by a scarifying action. The improved reamer by virtue of the taper in its construction gradually enlarges the hole and distributes the wear over the entire cutter.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A well reamer comprising a body, cutter holders mounted on the body for pivotal movements between limits about axes which are downwardly and inwardly inclined as well as laterally inclined, and cutters rotatably mounted in the cutter holders.

2. A well reamer comprising a body, cutter holders mounted on the body for pivotal movements between limits about axes which are downwardly and inwardly inclined as well as laterally inclined, and cutters rotat ably mounted in the cutter holders, said cutters each presenting a longitudinally curved exterior so as to be capable of bearing against a well wall throughout substantially their entire lengths.

3. A well reamer having cutters rotatable about axes which are downwardly and inwardly as well as laterally inclined, each cutter presenting a longitudinally curved exterior so as to be capable of bearing against a well wall throughout itscomplete length.

4:. A reamer comprising a body, cutter holders pivotally mounted upon the body for a limited pivotal movement about laterally inclined axes, cutters carried by the cutter holders and adapted to be swung through arcs in advance of their respective axes, there These being means for limiting the outward swing, ing movements of the cutter holders. 5. A reamer'comprising a body, cutter holders pivotally mounted upon the body for a limited pivotal movement about laterally inclined axes, cutters carried by-thecutter holders and adapted tobe swung. through arcs in advance of their respective axes, there being means for limitingthe outward swinging movements of the cutter-holders to posi tions wherein the cutters are held in their outermost positions.

V 6. A reamer comprising a body, said body having a cutter holder pivotally mounted upon the body for a limited pivotal movement about a laterally-inclined axis, and a cutter carried by the cutter holder adapted to be swung thereby through: an arc in advance of said inclined axis.-

7. A reamer comprising a body, cutterholders pivotally mounted upon the body for limited pivotal movements. about laterally inclined axes, cutters rotatably mounted upon the. cutter holders. said cutters having a general shape which is longitudinally curved" so that they may engage the walls'of the well throughout substantially their complete lengths, said cutters being adapted tobeswung through arcs in advance of the axes.

of their respective cutter holders. there being provision made for limiting the outward swinging movements of the cutter holders.

8. A reamer comprising a body, cutter holders pivotally mounted upon thel body for limited pivotal movements aboutzlaten ally inclined axes, cutters rotatably mounted upon the cutter-holders. said cutters having a. general shape which is longitudinally curved so that they may engage the walls of the well throughout substantially their complete lengths, said cutters being, adapted. to be swung througharcs in advanceof the axes of their respective cutter holders, there being provision made for limiting the outward swinging movements of the cutter holders to ositions 4 wherein the cutters are held in their outermost positions. 1 p

9. A reamer comprising a body, cutter holders pivotally mounted upon the body for. limited rotation about axes which are downwardly and inwardly as well as laterally inclined, and cutters carried bythe cutter holders adapted to be swung thereby through arcs in advance of their respective axes.

10. A reamer comprising a body, cutter holders pivotally mounted upon the body for limited rotation about axes which are downwardly and inwardly as well as laterally inclined, and cutters carried by the cutter holders adapted to be swung thereby through, arcs in advance of their respective axes, there being provision made for limiting the out ward swinging movements of the cutter holders. 7 l p r 11. A reamercomprising a,body, cutter holders pivotally mounted upon the body for limited rotation about axes which are downwardly and inwardly as well as laterally inclined, and cutters carried by the cutter holders adapted to be swung thereby through arcs in advance of their respective axes, there being provision made for limiting the outward swinging movements of the cutter holders, said cutters having .a general shape which is longitudinally curved in such a manner that when the cutters are in their outermost position they will engage the walls of a well throughout substantially their come plete lengths.

12. A well reamer comprising a body, outter holders pivotally mounted upon the body for movements about laterally inclined axes between limits, and roller cutters rotatablyv mounted upon the cutter holders for rotation in cutting position about laterally inclined axes, said cutters being mounted upon the cutter holders in positions in advance of the axes of the cutter holders.

13. A well reamer comprising a body, outter holders pivotally mounted upon the body for movements about laterally inclined axes between limits, and roller cutters rotatably mounted upon the cutter holders for rotation in cutting position about laterally inclined axes, said cutters presenting longitudinally curved exteriors so designed that the cutters during cutting may bear against the walls of the well throughout substantiall-y their ventire lengths.

14;. Awell reamer comprising a body, outter holders'pivotally mounted upon the body tormovements about laterally inclined axes betweenlimits, and roller cutters rotatably mounted upon the cutter holders for rotation in cutting position about laterally inclined axes, said cutters being mounted upon the cutter holders in positions in advance of the axes of the cutter holders, said cutters presenting longitudinally curved exteriors so designed that the cutters during cutting may bear against the walls of the well throughout substantially their entire lengths.

15. A well reamer comprising a. body, out ter holders pivotally mounted upon the body for; movements about laterally as well as downwardly and inwardly inclined axes between limits, and roller cutters rotatably mounted upon the cutter holders for rotation in'cutting position about laterally inclined axes.

16. A-well reamer comprising a body, cutter holders pivotally mounted upon the body for movements about laterally as well as downwardly and inwardly inclined axes between limits, and roller cutters rotatably mounted upon the cutter holders for rotation incutting position about laterally inclined axes, said cutters being mounted upon the cutter holders in positions in advance of the axes of their respective cutter holders.

17. A well reamer comprising a body, outter holders pivotally mounted upon the body for movements about laterally as well as downwardly and inwardly inclined axes between limits, and roller cutters rotatably mounted upon the cutter holders for rotation in cutting position about laterally inclined axes, said cutters being mounted upon the cutter holders in positions in advance of the axes of their respective cutter holders, said cutters presenting longitudinally curved exteriors so designed that the cutters during cutting may bear against the walls of the well throughout substantially their entire lengths.

18. A well reamer comprising a body, outter holders pivotally mounted upon the body for movements about downwardly and inwardly as well as laterally inclined axes be tween limits, and roller cutters rotatably mounted upon the cutter holders for rotation in cutting position about downwardly and inwardly as well as laterally inclined axes.

19. A well reamer comprising a body, outter holders pivotally mounted upon the body, means limiting outward movements of the cutter holders to cutting positions, and roller cutters rot-atably mounted upon the cutter holders for rotation in cutting position about downwardly and inwardly as well as laterally inclined axes.

20. A well reamer comprising a body, cutter holders pivotally mounted upon the body, means limiting outward movements of the cutter holders to cutting positions, and roller cutters rotatably mounted upon the cutter holders for rotation in cutting position about laterally inclined axes, said cutters being longitudinally curved and so designed that dur- ,ing cutting operations they will bear against the walls of the well throughout substantially their complete lengths.

21. A well reamer comprising a body, out ter holders pivotally mounted upon the body, means limiting outward movements of the cutter holders to cutting positions, and roller cutters rotatably mounted upon the cutter holders for rotation in cutting position about downwardly and inwardly as well as laterally inclined axes, said cutters being longitudinally curved and so designed that dur ing cutting they will bear against the walls of the well throughout substantially their complete lengths.

22. A well reamer comprising a body rotatable about its longitudinal central axis, cutter carriers pivotally mounted upon the body for movements about laterally inclined axes, and roller cutters rotatably mounted upon the cutter carriers for rotation about axes which are parallel to the laterally inclined axes of their respective cutter carriers.

23. A well reamer comprising a body rotatable about its longitudinal central axis, cutter carriers pivotally mounted upon the body for movements about laterally inclined axes,

and roller cutters rotatably mounted upon the cutter carriers for rotation about axes which are parallel to the laterally inclined axes of their respective cutter carriers, said cutters being longitudinally-curved and so designed that during cutting they will bear against the walls ofa wellthroughout substantially their complete lengths.

Y 24. A reamer comprising a body-rotatable about its longitudinalcentral axis, cutter carriers pivotally mounted upon the body for movements about downwardly and inwardly as well as laterally inclined axes, and roller cutters rotatably' mounted upon the cutter cutters rotatably mounted upon the cutter carriers for rotation about axes which are parallel to the downwardly and inwardly as Well as laterally inclined axes of their respective cutter carriers.

26. A well reamer comprising a body rotatable' about its longitudinal central axis, cutter carriers pivotally mounted uponsaid body for movements between limits, and cutters rotatably mounted upon the cutter carriers for rotation about axes parallel to the axes of pivotal movement of the cutter carriers. v i l '27. In areamer, a vertical elongate body rotatable about a'central axis, and an elongate roller cutter mounted on the body and extending in its cutting position diagonally upwardly and outwardly and circumferentially with respect to the body axis so that the upper end of the cutter lies outward of and circum ferentially displaced from the lower end.

28. Ina reamer, a vertically elongatebody rotatable about a central axis, and an elongate roller cutter mounted on the body and extending in its cutting position diagonally upwardly and outwardly with respect to the body axis and also diagonally with respect to a plane radial of the body axis. r

29. In a reamer, a body rotatable about its vertical central axis, an elongate roller cutter mounted upon the body and extending in its cutting position diagonally upwardly and outwardly with respect to the body axis and also diagonally with respect to a plane radial of the body axis, said cutter having circumferentially extending teeth thereon presenting outer edges which are inclined to the horizontal designed to scarify the walls of a well.

30. In a reamer, a body rotatable about its vertical central axis, an elongate roller cutter mounted upon the body and extending in its cutting position diagonally upwardly and outwardly with respect to the body axis and also diagonally with respect to a plane radial of the body axis, said cutter having circumferentially extending teeth thereon presenting outer edges which are inclined to the horizontal designed to scarify the walls of a well, the outer edges of all of the teeth being arranged on a curve longitudinally of the cutter so that each cutter will have each tooth engage the walls of the well and conically ream it.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification.

WILLIAM E. SIEVER'S.

OTTO HAMMER. 

